What Happens If A Presidential Nominee Drops Out? Donald Trump Could Spark A Plan B

You never know what Donald Trump will do next, and up to now, that uncertainty has been bad for the Republican Party. But in a stroke of optimism, some are wondering: What if Donald Trump quits? Or, more generally, what if any presidential nominee drops out? What would be devastating for most major party platforms in a traditional sense may actually be the best solution to a bad situation for the GOP this year.

First of all, and maybe most importantly, it has to be Trump's decision to drop out. In recent presidential electoral history, a candidate has never dropped out after being officially named the nominee. The closest example was in 1972, when Democratic vice presidential nominee Tom Eagleton withdrew over mental health issues he had in his past. But let's say the primary-elected candidate did drop out (or die; the only two stipulations accounted for). In such a case, Republicans are directed to the Republican National Committee's Rule 9. According to the rule:

The Republican National Committee is hereby authorized and empowered to fill any and all vacancies which may occur by reason of death, declination, or otherwise of the Republican candidate for President of the United States or the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States.

Currently, there aren't any signs of Trump backing down, but at the very least, NBC News reported that party leaders, like former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, are staging an intervention.